Microglia pack a toolbox for life
Open accessAbstract
After decades of being overlooked, a recent wave of studies have explored the roles of microglia in brain health and disease. Microglia perform important physiological functions to set up and maintain proper neural network functions, as well as orchestrate responses to toxic stimuli to limit harm. Many microglial transcriptional programs, extracellular sensing molecules, and functional outputs are seen throughout life. A stark example is the similarity of microglial responses to stressors during neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. The same themes often match that of other tissue-resident macrophages, presenting an opportunity to apply known concepts as therapeutics develop. We argue that microglial signaling during development and neurologic disease overlap with one another and with other tissue-resident macrophage pathways, in part due to similar sensed stimuli and a conserved sensome of receptors and signaling molecules, akin to a toolkit.
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Components of the TGF-β signaling axis were represented among the regulated genes in microglia after tau ablation.
“Notably, components of the TGF-β signaling axis were represented among the regulated genes, consistent with partial restoration of homeostatic regulatory pathways [150–152].”
From Tau Ablation Rewires Brain Cell Programs in Health and Restores Function in Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [151]
The TGF-β signaling components are consistent with partial restoration of homeostatic regulatory pathways.
“Notably, components of the TGF-β signaling axis were represented among the regulated genes, consistent with partial restoration of homeostatic regulatory pathways [150–152].”
From Tau Ablation Rewires Brain Cell Programs in Health and Restores Function in Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [151]
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- Authors
- Zengeler, K. E., & Lukens, J. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Virginia (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zengeler, Kristine E.
- Lukens, John R.
- Venue
- Trends in Immunology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-05
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 338-345
- ISSN
- 1471-4906 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11088496
- OpenAlex
- W4394787384
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6
- FWCI
- 0.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 374 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Trends in Immunology (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (RF1AG071996, 1RF1AG078684)
- Alzheimer's Association (ADSF-21-816651)
- National Institutes of Health
- University of Virginia
- Owens Family Foundation
- Cure Alzheimer's Fund
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- microglia, brain development, neurodegeneration, tissue-resident macrophages, microglial receptors, stress response, neuroinflammation, therapeutic target
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Macrophages, Signal Transduction, Microglia, Neurodegenerative Diseases
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